Palace Intrigue, Transmigration, and Spy Thrillers 宫斗、穿越、谍战

1. 351 国 The Happy Everyday Life of a Concubine's Wife in the Duke's Mansion 国公府庶媳的幸福日常 June's Private Plot六月的自留地Ancient Romance467k WordsCompleted [Now available in print] Ning Annuo was happily preparing to marry her fiance, the top scholar, when a bolt from the blue struck: he had been sleeping with someone else. She promptly broke off the engagement and married into the Duke’s residence instead. She outsmarted her mother-in-law, wisely guided her younger sister-in-law, won her husband’s devotion, and had a son and a daughter. Then she repaid everyone who had hurt her. She and her husband truly became a couple devoted to each other for l 4.8kReads8.9Score476Shelves
2. 352 谁 Can You Believe It? The Fake Young Master Fights His Way Back to the Capital Through the Imperial Exams 谁懂啊！假少爷他靠科举杀回京了 Million Creek Crossing百万溪越Historical253k WordsCompleted Lu Zhao transmigrates into the fake young master in the mix-up between the real and fake heirs of the Yongning Marquis's household. He arrives just as the dust settles, when the fake young master is sent away with nothing and returned to his birth parents. Looking at the drafty walls of a genuinely shabby shack, at his father and brothers, hunched over as if carrying a mountain on their backs, and at the little kids, skinny as bandits from Mount Emei, Young Master Lu, whose pockets once held onl 970Reads8.3Score140Shelves
3. 353 在 After Becoming Stunningly Beautiful in the ’90s, I Married Up 在九零拥有顶级美貌后，我攀高枝 My Heart Is My Heart我心即我心Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Not a strong female lead, just a heroine with an ordinary person’s outlook. She gradually becomes better and stronger. Hua Jia, who has always pursued beauty to the extreme, is reborn in the 1990s as a saleable beauty in a family famous for raising women to be dependent on men. To her, it’s like a blessing from heaven. The only problem is that she’s reborn at a dangerous moment: she’s about to be put on display and sold to the highest bidder. She’s suffered her whole life. At last, she hopes to 16.6kReads7.4Score1.8kShelves
4. 354 咸 A Laid-Back Soul Transmigrates and Marries a Eunuch, Loving Every Minute 咸鱼穿越，嫁给太监爽翻了 Sui Sui Is a Bad Cat岁岁是只坏猫Ancient Romance686k WordsCompleted A strong heroine and an equally capable hero + a ruthless, insecure yet arrogant male lead + a greedy, flirtatious female lead + a real eunuch + mutual devotion Jiang Xinyu had only just graduated as a forensic doctor when she was unlucky enough to get caught in the apocalypse. After struggling to survive for three years, she died when the zombie king blew himself up. When she opened her eyes again, she had transmigrated into a book as the heroine's legitimate older sister, destined to be abused 9.8kReads9.1Score1.4kShelves
5. 355 咸 The Laid-Back Consort: Rising Step by Step 咸鱼娘娘：步步高升 Melancholy Cantaloupe忧伤的哈密瓜Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + palace and household intrigue + childbirth + doted on exclusively later] Jiang Wan transmigrates into the body of a low-ranking palace consort of an emperor with no children. To protect the people around her, she has no choice but to compete for a little favor. Who knew she’d end up giving the emperor a chubby baby boy! Emperor: “She’s the birth mother of my only son. Of course I have to protect her.” Who knew that all that protection would turn into affection? As Jiang Wan ris 29.4kReads8.9Score2.7kShelves

   Reader note

   Gong Douwen [eating melon], who is very good at eating, is not brainless and has many links.

6. 356 特 The Imperial Consort Spy 特工皇妃 A Lifetime of Glamour一世风流Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted “The starry sky was like water, with stars glittering across it. A train sped through the night. Right behind it, five or six modified armored vehicles raced to intercept it. Mounted on their open roof hatches were either recoilless rifles or machine guns. The people inside looked anxious. “Target confirmed: eleven intercontinental missiles.” His voice was as calm as water, serene and still. “Can’t you take them apart and bring them back?” The minister of the Ministry of State Security spoke gra 6.7kReads9.3Score693Shelves
7. 357 宫 Palace Intrigue Begins Before the Selection 宫斗从选秀前开始 A Cluster of Flowers一丛花令Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted In her previous life, she endured a life of hardship and instability. From the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Wu’an to a government courtesan available to any man, she finally escaped a life of being passed from one man to another, only to jump from the tiger’s jaws into the wolf’s den. She walked on eggshells at every step until she finally became the real power behind the prefect’s household. But the misery of her first half of life had already left her body broken beyond repair. Only o 9.2kReads9.0Score1kShelves
8. 358 朕 My Beloved Ugly Girl, Please Take Care of Me 朕心爱的丑姑娘，请多指教 A Single Taste of Longing一味相思Ancient Romance1.6M WordsCompleted Her fiancé went from being a pampered crown prince to a paralyzed man on the brink of death. The proud noblewoman slit her own throat, leaving behind a luckless maid with a disfigured face, who was forced into the bridal sedan chair. “You’re paralyzed, and I’m ugly. We’re even, so neither of us gets to complain about the other.” At their first meeting, she put on a brave face and acted haughty. ... “Please guide me for the rest of my life.” Years later, the man who had once been half-dead walked 11.9kReads9.1Score1.4kShelves

   Reader note

   These two stories are both palace battle stories. The first one is more heartwarming and the relationship between the male and female protagonists is more delicate. The second one is relatively more Machiavellian, but they are both worth reading.

9. 359 误 Lost in the Exquisite Bedchamber 误入玲珑帐 A Cat, A Dog, and a Glass of Wine一猫一狗一杯酒Ancient Romance678k WordsCompleted The print edition is available on major platforms. [Pure historical romance + devoted couple + strong female lead + marriage before love + political intrigue + household rivalry] [Long-suffering princess of a fallen kingdom] X [scheming, rough-hewn prince] [Original title: The Enigma of Linglong] “A historical-romance version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith: outwardly united, secretly plotting against each other.” To seize power, Linglong spent sixteen years disguised as a young master named Ling, studyin 8.3kReads9.3Score1.1kShelves
10. 360 逼 You Forced Me to Be a Concubine, So I Took Your Place as Mistress of the Household 逼我当妾夺了你的主母 The Long Night Is Nearly Over寒夜将尽Ancient Romance219k WordsCompleted Book Description: After being reborn, Jiang Li inherits the original owner’s peerless beauty. Even a trafficker wants to take advantage of her. Ha! Who gave you the nerve? The ex-husband and his concubine, who ruined her family in her previous life, are still alive and well! So you’re enjoying being alive, are you? I’ll catch myself a mermaid and let you taste what it’s like to lose your family. Everyone in the residence has their own schemes now that A Li is back. You think you can bully me 10Reads—Score—Shelves
11. 361 笼 The Caged Blue Sparrow 笼锁青雀 Today Is a Good Day for an Extra Chapter今日宜加更Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Traditional historical romance, scheming maid rises to power, raising children, powerful man bows his head, sweet romance, possessive love, devoted to her later on, groveling after losing his wife] Zhuxin became the heir’s first woman, and the pretty maids who had been fighting tooth and nail for his favor immediately hated her. Anyone with eyes could see that the Grand Madam was using her to put the Madam in her place. Zhuxin had only just been promoted to first-class maid. She would have glad 289Reads7.1Score—Shelves
12. 362 霜 Frostfire: Unraveling the Turmoil at Cloudwatch Tower 霜灼：云阙探波澜 Weizhiwz未枝wzAncient Romance628k WordsOngoing Also known as: The General Won’t Leave Me Alone After I Return to My Family [A cold-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside guardian general vs. a calm, collected daughter of a Ministry of Revenue official] [Two formidable leads solving cases x wuxia adventures x a touch of ensemble cast x reunion after years apart] When Yun Xi returns to her family home, she sets out to investigate the truth behind her mother’s death. By chance, she crosses paths with a young general whose face is as cold as ice. 27Reads8.3Score—Shelves
13. 363 重 Reborn: The Divine Doctor's Legitimate Daughter Slays Her Way to a Marquisate 重生后，神医嫡女杀疯封侯了 Yi Yunfan逸云帆Ancient Romance240k WordsOngoing My new work is out! You're welcome to read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you'll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! —Reads—Score—Shelves
14. 364 惊 Breaking News! The Princess Consort Wanted by the Entire City Is in His Bridal Chamber 惊爆！被全城通缉的王妃在他洞房 Jian Yu简钰Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Two equally formidable leads + quirky heroine + seemingly innocent but secretly cunning hero + playful flirting + metaphysics] Prince Pei Yuheng is a man of extraordinary bearing. He can defend the nation with military might and govern it with literary skill. Countless noblewomen in the capital dream of marrying him. Yet he falls in love with Ye Qingwu, a lowborn merchant’s daughter, and even defies the emperor’s decree for her: He will take her as his principal wife and accept no concubines! H 5.3kReads8.4Score667Shelves
15. 365 花 Born to Be the Courtesan’s Legitimate Wife 花魁嫡妻命 You Lu由鹿Ancient Romance570k WordsCompleted [Rebirth + classic period setting + marriage first, love later + raising a child + beautiful and captivating heroine] She spent five years scraping out a miserable existence in a brothel. At last, the famous courtesan Luo Jinyi died. She died in her wedding sedan chair, being carried off to become someone’s concubine. When she awoke again, she was still going to be carried off in a wedding sedan chair. This time, it was the day ten years earlier when she had been deceived into refusing to marry 6.3kReads9.1Score855Shelves
16. 366 绿 Green Shoots on the Branch 绿上枝头 Light Peach Blossoms轻薄桃花Ancient Romance221k WordsCompleted [Signed for print] [Brave, steadfast transmigrated heroine VS cool, clearheaded young noble] [Transmigration + rebirth + prominent family + household intrigue + feel-good + career building + strong heroine + light comedy] Jiang Lübao, daughter of a censor, was unexpectedly kidnapped and had her reputation ruined. The marriage that had already been arranged for her was called off, too. For a young woman from a prominent family, this was a devastating blow. But she burst out laughing. No one knew 91.5kReads9.6Score11kShelves
17. 367 宫 A Rhapsody of Palace Flowers 宫花赋 Six-Eared Yuanyuan六耳圆圆Ancient Romance681k WordsCompleted [A no-nonsense, trope-defying palace-intrigue drama + no love for the emperor + ensemble of women] Everyone has their own ambitions. I have no interest in fighting other women over a man. She was little Qing Luo, a girl who valued her life above all else. Abandoned by her parents as a child, she had wandered through hardship until she entered the Forbidden City, where she met the beautiful, gracious Yue Ren and the clever, perceptive Lü Zhu. At last, her wandering heart found a home. The three s 31.6kReads9.6Score4.1kShelves
18. 368 大 The Ming Emperor's Beloved Consort, Wan Zhen'er 大明宠妃万贞儿 Mad Twenty-Four Snake疯廿四蛇Ancient Romance745k WordsCompleted [Strong female lead palace intrigue + mutual healing + coming-of-age romance] Was she a wicked concubine, or was she slandered? Why did a palace maid seventeen years older than the emperor become the most favored woman in the harem? The world scorned their love, but Emperor Xianzong’s devotion to Wan Zhen’er never wavered. She was Wan Zhen’er, the most favored woman in the six palaces, rumored among the people to be a “master gynecologist” who specialized in abortions. He was Emperor Xianzong, Z 7.9kReads9.4Score797Shelves
19. 369 宫 Palace Intrigue Gone Wild 宫斗也疯狂 Capricorn Big Fish摩羯大鱼Ancient Romance253k WordsCompleted [Sunshine Empress with a Sly Streak vs. Proud, Innocent Emperor] [Historical Setting + Light Comedy + Palace Intrigue + Subverting Expectations + Laugh-Out-Loud + Sweet Romance] “In broad daylight, beneath a clear sky, out in the open wilderness, the young lady of Chancellor Wen's family has knocked His Majesty flat!!!” Wen Zhishan is the daughter of the current chancellor. But she inherited none of her father's refinement or good manners. Instead, she's rough and impulsive, a notorious street t 1.1kReads9.2Score158Shelves
20. 370 皇 The Empress's Daily Life Raising a Child 皇后养娃日常 Jiangzuo Floating Raft江左浮槎Ancient Romance95k WordsCompleted [Historical romance + raising children + palace intrigue + mistaken circumstances + profound love + family bonds] I am the empress of Dazhao. I started out as a palace maid in the Yeting Palace, and after ten years of ups and downs, I finally ascended to the throne. I thought that after surviving the cutthroat palace struggles and taking the most exalted phoenix seat in Dazhao, the road ahead would be smooth. But in my tenth year securely seated as empress, I was waiting to get promoted, make a 1kReads9.3Score106Shelves
21. 371 失 A Lost-Memory Noble Consort’s Story of Winning the Emperor’s Favor 失忆贵妃承宠记 Lin Xi Yuan林汐愿Ancient Romance288k WordsCompleted [Harem romance + aloof beauty + historical coming-of-age + worlds apart in status + devoted in body and heart, one-on-one] Kang Yuyi was born a hereditary servant of the Prince of Qin’s household. Because of her extraordinary beauty, the princess consort took a liking to her and sent her to serve as a bedchamber maid to the heir, Li Yuanheng. But the heir turned out to be cold and distant, with no interest in women. After Kang Yuyi’s attempts to flirt with Li Yuanheng repeatedly failed, his cous 18kReads9.3Score1.3kShelves
22. 372 大 Empress Daqi: The Complete Collection 大奇皇后（全集） A Suo阿琐Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted The story follows a concubine-born daughter of the Chancellor, given to the Emperor as a gift. In a single night, she becomes Empress and wins the Emperor’s heart, leading him to empty the harem for her. 4.2kReads9.2Score631Shelves
23. 373 宫 The Willow by the Palace Wall 宫墙柳 Dream Doll梦娃Ancient Romance166k WordsCompleted Why must the imperial consorts compete for the emperor’s favor? A smash-hit, heart-wrenching historical romance that burst onto the scene in 2019! Recommended by countless tearful readers, this unconventional palace-intrigue novel will stay with you long after you finish. In the lightest of styles, it captures everyone’s deepest regrets. In May of the year I turned fourteen, with the pagoda trees in fragrant bloom, I sat in Yong’an Palace, propping up my head as I dozed. The man’s laughter held 56.7kReads9.7Score8.3kShelves
24. 374 系 The Claiming the Throne Series: Historical Romance Collection 《夺嫡》系列古言套装 Moonset月落Ancient Romance2.8M WordsCompleted [Sweet Historical Romance + Mutual Devotion + Palace Intrigue] Popular author Yueluo's trilogy of sweet romances: lighthearted and hilarious, with sweetness turned up to the max! "The Fight for the Throne": A feisty young lady who always gets even × the scheming, lovesick Ninth Prince. A laugh-out-loud, sugar-sweet battle for the throne! "Joy with You": A venomous, calculating king × a clever and decisive queen. A perfect match who will conquer the world together! "A Fine Day Bestowed upon You": 60.6kReads9.6Score8kShelves
25. 375 满 Spring Over the City: A Collection of Historical Romances by Yiyimaiqian 满城春（一枚铜钱古言精选） A Copper Coin一枚铜钱Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted A collection of classic historical romances by popular Jinjiang author Yi Mei Tong Qian. These three works are all timeless favorites, perfect for staying up all night to read: Spring Over the City, Poisoned Wine, and Strange Tales of the Eighth Day of the Twelfth Month. The Liu family of the capital is an eminent clan so powerful that even the imperial family treats them with respect. Liu Yan, the legitimate youngest daughter of the second branch, is brilliant and blessed with both wisdom and g 28.8kReads9.4Score3.5kShelves
26. 376 抄 After the Estate Was Confiscated 抄家以后 Snow Tea Woof Woof雪茶汪汪Ancient Romance252k WordsCompleted [A clever, levelheaded noblewoman vs. an honest, straightforward, fiercely loyal guard] [Historical Romance + Revenge + Healing + Political Intrigue + Love That Grows Over Time + Devoted Guard] Cheng Ming'an was the daughter of a general. On the eve of her wedding, the Cheng family was arrested and their assets confiscated for treason. Her father and brothers were executed, her eldest sister took her own life, and her married sisters were put through one hardship after another. Her fiancé change 15.1kReads9.5Score1.8kShelves
27. 377 皇 How to Make an Empress (Complete in 2 Volumes) 皇后是这样炼成的（全2册） Jiu Xiaoqi酒小七Ancient Romance368k WordsCompleted Ji Wuju finally catches up with the woman he loves after pursuing her for thousands of miles. At the military camp, he and Ye Zhenzhen, who is disguised as a man, make a show of their affection, leaving the old general so frantic he spits blood. “Think of the consequences!” Before Ji Wuju can even get used to having her by his side, Ye Zhenzhen is abducted by the Xiongnu again. Ji Wuju: “!!!” (Ye Zhenzhen: “Your Majesty, stay calm.”) After a great deal of hardship, he rescues Ye Zhenzhen, only f 1.1kReads9.4Score155Shelves
28. 378 都 The King of Immortals in the City 都市仙王之王 I Am Wang Shisan在下王十三Urban1.7M WordsCompleted When Feng Xiaolou was twenty, his parents mysteriously disappeared, leaving him only an oral account of his family's past. The once illustrious Feng clan, a family of cultivators, now had no one but him left to fend for himself. Forced to drop out of school to make ends meet, he scraped by doing odd jobs in Jiangcheng. Starting with the Yin-Yang Mirror, he began his journey from ordinary mortal to peak powerhouse. Guided by the mirror, he took control of Jiangcheng's economic lifelines and estab 24Reads8.8Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    [Blowing kiss][blowing kiss]

29. 379 从 Taking Control of the World, Starting with the Patrol Office 从巡检司开始掌控天下 I Am Wang Shisan在下王十三Eastern Fantasy2.2M WordsCompleted The protagonist, Wang Shisan, is a low-ranking ninth-grade patrol officer in the Yuwo Patrol Office of Luzhou. From the government offices to the martial world, he uses his blade and his wits to break through deadlocks, unite forces, and climb step by step. In the end, he overthrows the decaying imperial regime and ascends the throne. Ruling the world is not his final goal. Leading his loyal and valiant followers, he conquers the globe and puts an end to war through war, until the Dragon Banner 228Reads8.6Score—Shelves
30. 380 慧 From Maid to Consort: The Rise of Imperial Noble Consort Huixian 【从婢到妃】慧贤皇贵妃逆袭录 Shan Shan Shui Shui杉杉氺氺Ancient Romance497k WordsCompleted She is a lowly jade buried in the dust; he is the emperor who wields his brush high above the heavens. She uses tenderness as a blade, carving a path through the blood-soaked depths of a palace that devours its own. She helps him resolve a political crisis and devises a plan to ease the floods in Jiangnan; when he loses his legitimate son, she silently copies a hundred volumes of sutras for the dead. Hongli holds her bloodied, coughing body, his voice breaking as he cries: “Qingyuan, I promise 7Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Gong Douwen, the heroine HD starts out as a palace maid, with no golden fingers. Every promotion she gets is earned by her own wisdom, strategy and a little bit of luck. It's not mindless, it's a real female growth story and a game of IQ. The supporting characters in it also have their own stories, and there are no pure tool people. The plots of palace fights are intertwined, and there are also plots of intrigue.

31. 381 替 After Our Marriage by Proxy, the Ailing Young Lord Is So Furious He’s Bouncing with Energy 替嫁后病弱世子被气得活蹦乱跳 A Ladleful from the Weakwater River弱水一瓢Ancient Romance2.6M WordsCompleted After transmigrating overnight, she woke up shoved into a bridal sedan, being sent to bring good fortune to a sickly man who had been poisoned with a rare toxin and was not expected to live long. Su Tang just wanted to make the best of her situation, but with so many people looking for trouble, she had no choice but to roll up her sleeves and protect her husband. Cure poison, crush scumbags, and take on the bizarre troublemakers! Her legitimate younger sister wanted to rekindle an old romance an 5.3kReads9.3Score921Shelves

    Reader note

    Everyone, come and read this book and see how the heroine gradually raised her status to as high as possible. Her promotion path is comparable to that of Zhen Huan.

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